Salem Burglaries Drop as Neighborhood Watch Participation Increases

(Salem) - Residential burglaries in the city of Salem dropped by 12% in 2005, according to the latest statistics compiled by the Salem Police Department.

They say year-end statistics also showed that the number of households participating in Neighborhood Watch doubled during the same time period. The number jumped from 3.8% in January, 2005, to 7.9% in January 2006.

The next figure is startling; police learned that 98.7% of all reported residential burglaries in 2005, occurred in homes that did not participate in Neighborhood Watch. This dramatic figure backs up years of police claims, that Neighborhood Watch programs work and are effective.

Angie Hedrick with the Salem Police Department Community Response Section, describes Neighborhood Watch as a crime prevention program that emphasizes bringing residents together to learn about preventing criminal activity, while promoting neighborhood safety.

She says the program focuses on observation, awareness, and establishing a `watch out for each other" atmosphere. The connection between neighbors that the program encourages helps reduce the opportunity for crime, such as residential burglaries. The new statistics give much creedence to the belief.

Police investigators say burglars and other criminals commit crime in areas where they are confident they won`t be seen or caught, including neighborhoods with dark streets or homes with shut blinds and unlit porch lights.

One way that Salem residents decrease their chances of being a crime victim is by inviting their neighbors to start a Neighborhood Watch program on their block. Call 503-588-6175 for more information about the Salem Police Department`s Neighborhood Watch program.